Graham praises Trump proposal tying Iran deal to Abraham Accords as “simply brilliant”

In 2023, Riyadh insisted on movement toward a Palestinian state as a condition for normalization, while Israel rejected such a commitment.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

US Sen. Lindsey Graham on Monday praised President Donald Trump’s proposal to require Muslim countries participating in negotiations over Iran to join the Abraham Accords, calling the idea “simply brilliant” and describing it as a path toward major regional change.

The South Carolina Republican endorsed the proposal after President Trump said countries involved in discussions surrounding a ceasefire arrangement with Iran should normalize relations with Israel as part of a broader agreement.

“With Saudi Arabia and others like Pakistan making peace with Israel, the region will know a level of stability never dreamed of before President Trump and will eventually lead to regional integration making the Middle East a powerhouse for economic opportunity and good instead of a powder keg,” Graham wrote on X.

“I expect our Arab allies to embrace this, as well as our friends in Israel, focusing on this task as failure is not an option — which would be a correct analysis,” he added.

The comments followed a Truth Social post by President Trump referencing what was described as a Saturday “phone summit” with leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey regarding a ceasefire proposal and regional diplomacy connected to Iran.

“Once a peace agreement is in place,” President Trump wrote, “It should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords.”

President Trump also said some countries might choose not to join the accords.

“It may be possible that one or two have a reason for not doing so, and that will be accepted, but most should be ready, willing, and able to make this Settlement with Iran a far more Historic Event than it would, otherwise, be,” he wrote.

The Abraham Accords were launched in 2020 and established normalization agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and later Kazakhstan.

President Trump said Saudi Arabia should be among the first countries to join the expanded framework.

Discussions between Israel and Saudi Arabia had progressed before Oct. 7, although Riyadh insisted on movement toward a Palestinian state as a condition for normalization, while Israel rejected such a commitment.

President Trump also suggested Iran could eventually join the accords following a peace agreement.